Yakshagni - An odyssey of unbroken devotion - II

7) The Sparring

Dharma and Maurya strode out of the canteen silently, both engrossed in their own thought. For a short space of time, they had been caught in a powerful, inexplicable trance. They balked from calling it attraction because, to Dharma, he was already taken. It went against her principles to chase someone who was committed to a relationship. So far, she had acknowledged the magnetism that Maurya held for her, but beyond that, she had not expected it to progress. However, a few moments ago, they had connected in a way that was incomprehensible.

Maurya regarded her with suspicion. He recoiled from the exquisiteness that he had felt in holding her. Their proximity had obliterated everything else from his thoughts. He had been aware only of the intoxicating blend of her fragrance; a whiff of something strongly floral, a trace of aromatic spice, and a fleeting scent of her feminity. For a brief spell, he had yielded to his senses.

Dharma stole a glance at Maurya, he seemed preoccupied. She wasn't brave enough to intrude into his contemplation. Her phone rang and she answered Brahim's call, "Hi...No, I am outside the canteen."

Brahim waved at her, regarding them with surprise. She introduced, "This is my friend Brahim and he is...." Before she could introduce Maurya, Brahim chimed in, "Yes, Mr. Maurya Verma, your boss!"

Maurya gave a half-hearted smile and took Brahim's offered hand, "It is a pleasure to meet you, sir," Brahim gushed, prompting Maurya to say, "Chuck the sir out! It is Maurya."

"So, you are from Mohandham?" Maurya asked as they reached his car in the parking lot.

"Yes, we all grew up together in the township."

Maurya nodded politely, "Nice to meet you Brahim, got to go!" he clicked the automatic car key and strode to the other side of the car without glancing at Dharma.

"Whew, what is he doing here Dharma?" Brahim asked. Dharma shrugged, faintly disappointed that Maurya had left. Brahim and Dharma went back to the ward where Kamya was admitted. Dharma noticed that the old man had left, and so she enquired about his grandson to the duty nurse. Following the nurse's directions, she visited the boy's ward to have a look at him. He was sleeping peacefully. The boy and his face did not affect Dharma as much as his name. She gave a warm smile at the sleeping boy; unknowingly, the boy or his odd name had brought Maurya and Dharma together for a short time.

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Driving back home, Maurya glowered at the biker who was trying to overtake him. Swearing loudly, he brought the car to an abrupt halt and stared at the partially visible road. It was a foggy night and everything was wrapped in a misty veil. Thankfully, the road was wide and a broad median ensured that the headlights of oncoming vehicles were not blinding.

Smacking the steering wheel with frustration, he cursed the moment he had decided to visit Dharma's friend at the hospital. He had wanted to know the progress and had gone to check on her. He had not expected to find Dharma and seeing her in that distressed state, his focus had strayed.

He recalled the stormy evening when Dharma had rushed to pull him out of the car. If she had not, the heavy bark of the tree could have injured him but Dharma had rescued him in the nick of time. He was indebted to Mahendran who had freed him from child traffickers and to Vasukinath Krishna who had groomed him, but he shrank away from feeling obligated to Dharma.

Dharma stoked his innermost fear; the fear of losing control! He still reeled from the volatile encounter of that evening.

From a young age, Maurya hated losing. Be it a game or an argument or a fight; he had never liked to lose. And he had made certain that he always emerged as the winner. It had become an obsession. He had continuously stood first in the class; he had scored the highest in the entrance exams and he had made sure that he became the head of Krishna Industries. Mahendran Namboodri had often reproved him for his competitive nature and had advised Maurya to be less aggressive. Nevertheless, Maurya had followed his own logic and so far, he had never lost to anyone. He had earned every bit of his success with his hard work and acumen. And now, he wouldn't allow anyone to jeopardise his plans or his future.